Suitcase for carrying objects

ABSTRACT

A suitcase for housing and carrying objects comprises a first and a second shell; hinged elements for connecting the shells along respective first joining edges and allowing the arrangement of the shells in a closed or open configuration; closure elements for locking the shells along respective second joining edges in the closed configuration. Each shell comprises a plurality of compartments for receiving and containing objects, and at least one separating panel that is rotatably connected to a first joining edge and reversibly couplable to a second joining edge of one of the shells. The suitcase has a first dimension equal to a distance between the first and second joining edges and less than or equal to 180 mm.

The present invention relates to suitcases and/or cases made of thermoplastic material and in particular refers to a rigid polypropylene suitcase adapted to contain and carry objects and/or products which must be protected from shocks and atmospheric agents, such as technical instruments and equipment, sports equipment, weapons.

Suitcases or cases for containing and carrying objects and/or products to be protected typically comprise a casing consisting of a first rigid shell or containment shell and a second rigid shell or closure shell, the two shells being made of thermoplastic materials which ensure good mechanical and chemical resistance, such as polypropylene (PP), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polycarbonate (PC).

Injection moulding processes are known which allow creating rigid shells having more or less complex shapes, with a good finish and even high wall thicknesses to ensure high resistance to breakage and perforation.

The containment shell and the closure shell are opposite each other, hinged together to allow the opening and closing of the casing and are provided with suitable closure elements for the locking in a closed configuration, in which the two shells are superimposed with the respective peripheral edges of the side walls that are coupled and abutting each other. The hinges and the closure elements must be such as to ensure a strong and firm coupling of the two shells in the closed configuration in order to prevent accidental openings due to shocks and stresses or break-in or forcing attempts performed by persons not authorized to access the contents of the suitcase.

The containment shell is usually sized such that all the objects or products to be protected, placed in a certain position, are contained therein. More specifically, the containment shell is occupied entirely or almost entirely by a layer of protective material, for example sponge or elastic polyurethane foam, inside which seats of appropriate shapes and sizes are made for the insertion of the objects to be protected. In particular, the seats are made in such a way that the objects are placed on a single level and do not come into contact with each other, so as to avoid impacts and potentially harmful rubbing. Thus, with reference to FIG. 1 showing an example of a suitcase known in the state of the art, in order to ensure that the objects are all positioned on a single level and separated from each other, the length L and the first dimension or depth D1 of the containment shell and therefore of the suitcase are closely dependent on the number, size and arrangement of the objects themselves.

The objects, once inserted into the seats of containment shell intended for them, have respective exposed portions, that is, portions which are not in contact with, and may be partially protruding from, the protective material.

The closure shell is intended only to close the containment shell. In order that the exposed portions of the objects, inserted in the apposite seats, are not directly in contact with the thermoplastic material of the closure shell, which is hard, rigid and therefore not suitable to dampen any impact, a further layer of protective material, for example also in this case sponge or elastic polyurethane foams, generally with cones, is inserted inside the closure shell. Since the additional layer of protective material must be thick enough to ensure that the objects are adequately protected from shocks and stresses, the closure shell has a thickness which is not negligible, although less than the thickness of the containment shell. As a result of the above, again with reference to FIG. 1, the suitcases and/or cases known in the state of the art have a second dimension or total thickness D2 equal to the sum of the thickness of the containment and closure shells.

In the light of the above, in the case of multiple objects and/or products to be protected, the overall dimensions of the suitcase intended for the carrying the objects would be excessive, to detriment of the handling of the suitcase itself. It should also be noted that, even if two or more small suitcases were used, a user would still have to handle several items, inevitably having difficulty carrying and controlling them all.

In addition to the above, all the objects or products being positioned in the containment shell, the weight that the latter is intended to support is much greater than that actually supported by the closure shell. Therefore, the overall weight of the suitcase is unbalanced and this results in a further disadvantage in terms of handling the suitcase.

In addition, if the suitcase is to be opened, in order for the opening operation to be easy and the objects inserted in the apposite seats not to disengage therefrom, accidentally falling due to gravity, attention must be paid to rest the outer face of the containment shell on a support surface and open the suitcase by handling only the closure shell. As a consequence of this, due to frequent interaction with different types of surfaces, the containment shell is more inclined to abrasion and wear.

An object of the present invention is to improve the known suitcases made of thermoplastic material, in particular suitcases and cases adapted to contain and carry objects, such as technical instruments and equipment, sports equipment, weapons.

Another object is to manufacture a suitcase for carrying objects which, with the same capacity, has a small size compared to the known suitcases made of thermoplastic material, and is ergonomic, handy, rigid, robust, resistant to shocks, abrasion, atmospheric agents and able to guarantee a high level of protection of the objects contained therein.

A further object is to manufacture a suitcase which can be opened by resting any of the two shells which form the casing on a support surface and handling the other shell easily and without danger of falling of the objects contained therein.

A rigid suitcase for carrying objects according to the present invention is described in claim 1.

The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the attached drawings which illustrate some exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a known suitcase of the state of the art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a suitcase for carrying objects according to the present invention, shown in a closed configuration;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the suitcase of FIG. 2 shown in an open configuration and a disengaged condition;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the suitcase of FIG. 2, shown in an open configuration and a covering condition.

With reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, a rigid suitcase 1 according to the invention is illustrated that is adapted to contain and carry objects and/or products, in particular objects to be protected from impacts and atmospheric agents, such as for example technical tools and equipment, sports equipment, weapons.

The suitcase 1 comprises a first shell 2 and a second shell 3, provided with respective first joining edges 21, 31 and opposite second joining edges 22, 32, hinged elements 4 for mutually and rotatably connecting the two shells 2, 3 along the first joining edges 21, 31 so as to allow the arrangement of the shells in a closed configuration C or in an open configuration A, and closure means 5 for locking the shells 2, 3 at the second joining edges 22, 32 in the closed configuration C.

The shells 2, 3 comprise a plurality of respective compartments 20, 30 adapted to entirely receive and contain one or more objects, placed in a certain position. In particular, the compartments 20, 30 are made in such a way that the objects are placed on a single level and do not come into contact with each other, so as to avoid impacts and potentially harmful rubbing.

Advantageously, each compartment 20, 30 may also contain a layer of protective material, for example sponge or elastic polyurethane foam, not shown in the figure, of suitable shapes and sizes for fully inserting the objects to be protected.

The suitcase 1 also comprises at least one separating panel 6, which is rotatably connected to a first joining edge of one of said shells 2, 3 and reversibly couplable to a second joining edge of the same shell. With reference to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the suitcase 1 comprises a separating panel 6 that is rotatably connected to the first joining edge 21 of the first shell 2 and is reversibly couplable to the second joining edge 22 of the same first shell 2, in particular in a covering condition P in which the first shell 2 and the plurality of respective compartments 20 are closed.

In more detail, the separating panel 6 comprises a first fastening edge 61, rotatably connected to the first joining edge 21, and a second fastening edge 62, opposite the first fastening edge 61.

The second fastening edge 62 is firmly and reversibly couplable to the second joining edge 22 by locking means 25, 65, selected from a group that includes snap fastener, magnetic buttons, zips, hook-and-loop fasteners and locking tabs, so as to achieve the covering condition P.

In such a covering condition P, when the objects are inserted into the compartments 20 intended therefor, the respective exposed portions are in contact with a wall of the separating panel 6, possibly coated with a layer of protective material, for example sponge or elastic polyurethane foam. The coupling of the second fastening edge 62 of the separating panel 6 to the second joining edge 22 of the first shell 2 ensures that the objects to be protected are firmly and securely inserted into the respective compartments 20, so as not to disengage from the latter.

Furthermore, thanks to the reversibility of the coupling between the second fastening edge 62 of the separating panel 6 and the second joining edge 22 of the first shell 2, in order to have access to the plurality of compartments 20 in which the objects to be protected are inserted, it is possible to decouple the separating panel 6 from the second joining edge 22 of the first shell 2 and space apart it from the latter, in a so-called disengaged condition D. The shells 2, 3 comprise respective main panels 12, 13 made by thermoforming a known and commercially available interwoven/reinforced polypropylene sheet, and respective side elements 112, 113, substantially peripheral, made of polypropylene by injection moulding and fixed to the main panels 12, 13. In particular, the first shell 2 comprises a first main panel 12 to which a first side element 112 is fixed and the second shell 3 comprises a second main panel 13 to which a second side element 113 is fixed.

Each main panel 12, 13 forms the main wall of largest extension of the respective shell 2, 3, while the side element 112, 113 forms the four side walls or sides of the shell 2, 3 which peripherally surround the respective main panel 12, 13. The side elements 112, 113 respectively comprise said second joining edges 22, 32 intended to couple to one another in the closed configuration C.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, the side elements 112, 113 are injection moulded directly on the respective main panels 12, 13 so that the injected polypropylene and the interwoven/reinforced polypropylene of the main panels 12, 13 are melted and join to form the shells 2, 3 in a single body.

Alternatively, the main panels 12, 13 and the side elements 112, 113 can be made separately and then fixed by ultrasonic welding that, as is known, allows precisely and effectively welding thermoplastic materials of the same type. In this case, the injected polypropylene of the side elements 112, 113 and the interwoven polypropylene of the main panels 12, 13 are melted and joined firmly at the joining portions so as to form a single body.

Still alternatively, the main panels 12, 13 and the side elements 112, 113 can be fixed by means of mechanical joining elements comprising, for example, rivets.

Since they are made by injection moulding, the side elements 112, 113 integrate and comprise shaped means and/or portions, known, arranged for fixing the hinged elements 4 and the closure elements 5 and not further described herein, and/or for making functional elements of the suitcase 1.

In particular, the side elements 112, 113 comprise handle means 17, 18 arranged to form a gripping and carrying handle of the suitcase 1 in the closed configuration C. The first side element 112 of the first shell 2 is provided with first handle means 25 comprising a first opening made at a front central portion of the first side element 112. The second side element 113 of the second shell 3 is provided with second handle means 35 comprising a second opening made at a front central portion of the second side element 113. In the closed configuration C the two openings match, defining the gripping handle.

Furthermore, one of said shells 2, 3, for example the second shell 3, comprises two hooking elements 41, 42 provided with respective eyelets 41 a, 42 a, each eyelet being intended to couple with a further hooking element, such as a snap-hook or the like, of a shoulder strap, not illustrated, for example for carrying the suitcase 1 on the shoulder. Advantageously, the two hooking elements 41, 42 are injection moulded directly on the second shell 3, so as to be in a single body with the second shell.

More specifically, the two hooking elements 41, 42 are made on the side element 113 of the second shell 3, arranged at a predefined distance from one another. In particular, one hooking element 42 is farther away from the geometric centre of the second shell 3, i.e. closer to the respective end of the suitcase 1, with respect to the other hooking element 42. This configuration allows an easier and more comfortable carrying of the suitcase 1, since the asymmetrical arrangement of the two hooking elements 41, 42 with respect to the geometric centre of the second shell 3 allows the suitcase 1 to be placed on the shoulder with a substantially vertical arrangement, according to the principle of equilibrium of the system of forces acting on the suitcase 1.

It is evident that, if the first shell 2 comprises the two hooking elements 41, 42, the latter ones are made on the respective side element 112 and the above applies mutatis mutandis with reference to the first shell 2.

In a different embodiment, the suitcase according to the present invention also comprises a second separating panel with a first fastening edge, rotatably connected to the first joining edge 31 of the second shell 3, and a second fastening edge, opposite the first fastening edge, firmly and reversibly couplable to the second joining edge 32 of the second shell 3 by locking means. When the separating panel 6 is coupled to the second joining edge 22 of the first shell 2 and the second separating panel is coupled to the second joining edge 32 of the second shell 3, the suitcase is in a covering condition in which the first shell 2, the second shell 3 and the plurality of respective compartments 20, 30 are closed. When only the separating panel 6 is coupled to the second joining edge 22 of the first shell 2 or only the second separating panel is coupled to the second joining edge 32 of the second shell 3, the suitcase is respectively in a first disengaged condition, in which the plurality of compartments 30 of the second shell 3 are accessible, or in a second disengaged condition, in which the plurality of compartments 20 of the first shell 3 are accessible. Finally, when the separating panel 6 and the second separating panel are both decoupled from the respective second joining edge 22, 32, the suitcase is in a total disengaged condition in which the compartments 20, 30 are all equally accessible.

In a further different embodiment, within each containment shell 2, 3 a single layer of the protection material is positioned within which the plurality of compartments 20, 30 of suitable shapes and sizes are made for fully inserting the objects to be protected.

The suitcase 1 has a first dimension or depth D1, equal to a distance between the first joining edge 21 and the second joining edge 22 of the first shell 2, and a second dimension or width D2, equal to a distance between the main panels 12, 13. Since generally, especially in recent years, a suitcase is not comparable to a rectangular parallelepiped but has a rounded or curved shape, the distance of the joining edges 21, 22 is understood as the greatest of the measurable distances therebetween, similarly the distance between the main panels 12, 13 is understood as the greatest of the measurable distances between the main panels.

In the case of many objects to be protected, since both shells are intended to entirely receive and contain one or more objects, technical tests carried out by the applicant have in fact shown that overall dimensions of the suitcase as claimed are significantly reduced and the ergonomics and handling thereof significantly improved. In particular, the suitcase 1 has a first dimension D1 less than or equal to 180 mm, for example between 135-180 mm, therefore considerably less than the depth of the known suitcases, and a second dimension D2 less than or equal to 125 mm, for example between 90-125 mm, therefore considerably less than the width of the known suitcases.

Furthermore, the overall weight of the suitcase is balanced, to further benefit the handling of the suitcase according to the present invention.

The rigid suitcase 1 of the invention also ensures that the objects inserted in the respective compartments 20, 30 in the covering condition P do not accidentally fall by force of gravity. In this condition, in fact, thanks to the separating panels firmly coupled to the respective second joining edges 22, 32, the objects cannot disengage from the compartments 20, 30 intended therefor and are thus suitably protected and insured against accidental falls. Finally, it should be noted that if the suitcase comprises the separating panel 6 and the second separating panel, this suitcase in the covering condition can be opened by resting on a support surface any of the two shells 2, 3, which form the casing, handling the other shell 3, 2 easily and without the danger of the objects contained therein falling. 

1. A suitcase for housing and carrying objects, the suitcase comprising: a first shell; a second shell; hinged elements for mutually and rotatably connecting the first and second shells along respective first joining edges and allowing arrangement of the first and second shells in a closed configuration or in an open configuration; and closure elements for locking the first and second shells at respective second joining edges in the closed configuration, wherein each of the first and second shells comprises a plurality of respective compartments, adapted to receive and contain corresponding objects, at least one separating panel is rotatably connected to the first joining edge of one shell of the first and second shells and reversibly couplable to the second joining edge of the one shell in a covering condition in which the one shell and the plurality of respective compartments of the one shell are closed, and the suitcase is provided with a first dimension equal to a distance between the first joining edge and the second joining edge of the first shell and less than or equal to 180 mm.
 2. A suitcase according to claim 1, wherein the separating panel comprises a first fastening edge rotatably connected to the first joining edge of the one shell and a second fastening edge, opposite the first fastening edge and reversibly couplable by locking means to the second joining edge of the one shell.
 3. A suitcase according to claim 1, wherein the separating panel is also movable in a disengaged condition in which the separating panel is decoupled from the second joining edge of the one shell and spaced from the one shell to allow access to the plurality of respective compartments of the one shell.
 4. A suitcase according to claim 1, wherein the locking means are selected from a group that includes a snap fastener, magnetic buttons, zips, hook-and-loop fasteners, and locking tabs.
 5. A suitcase according to claim 1, wherein one shell of the first and second shells comprises two hooking elements provided with respective eyelets and arranged at a predefined distance from each other.
 6. A suitcase according to claim 5, wherein one of the two hooking elements is farther away from a geometric centre of the one shell with respect to another of the two hooking elements.
 7. A suitcase according to claim 1, wherein the first and second shells comprise respective main panels of a thermoformed sheet of polypropylene, and respective side elements of injection molded polypropylene respectively fixed to the main panels.
 8. A suitcase according to claim 7, wherein the side elements comprise respectively the second joining edges intended to couple to each other in the closed configuration.
 9. A suitcase according to claim 6, wherein the first and second shells comprise respective main panels of a thermoformed sheet of polypropylene, and respective side elements of injection molded polypropylene respectively fixed to the main panels, and the two hooking elements are on the respective side element of the one shell of the first and second shells.
 10. A suitcase according to claim 5, wherein the two hooking elements are injection moulded directly on the one shell of the first and second shells so as to be in a single body with the one shell.
 11. A suitcase according to claim 7, wherein the suitcase is provided with a second dimension equal to a distance between the main panels and less than or equal to 125 mm. 